Poisoning

What is poison?

A poison is any substance that is harmful to your body. There are many different types of poison. Many poisonous substances are products you have around the house. Even medicines that aren't taken as directed can be harmful.

Ways you can be exposed to poison include breathing it in, swallowing it or absorbing it through your skin.

What types of substances can be harmful?

Substances that could poison you include the following:

Cleaning products

Household products, such as nail polish remover and other personal care products

Paint thinner

Pesticides used in the house or in the yard

Chemicals used in the yard, such as herbicides, fertilizers and fungicides

Metals, such as lead

Mercury, which can be found in old thermometers and batteries

Prescription and over-the-counter drugs when combined or taken the wrong way

What are the symptoms of poisoning?

The effects of poisoning depend on what substance you are exposed to, and the type and amount of exposure. Your age, your weight and how healthy you are can also affect your symptoms. Poisoning can cause short-term effects, like a skin rash or vomiting. In serious cases, it can cause brain damage, coma or death.

The following are some possible symptoms of poisoning:

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Nausea

Redness or sores around the mouth

Drooling or dry mouth

Dilated pupils (pupils that are bigger than normal) or constricted pupils (pupils that are smaller than normal)

Rash

Confusion

Shaking or seizures

Trouble breathing

Unconsciousness (fainting)

How can I prevent poisoning?

The best way to guard against poisoning is to avoid exposure to harmful substances. The following are some tips:

Keep all dangerous household substances in locked cabinets, out of the reach of children. Potentially dangerous substances include medicine, household cleaning products and anything containing harmful chemicals (such as nail polish remover and bug repellent). Childproofing your house with child safety locks and guards may be a good idea.

Wear protective clothing (such as gloves) when using cleaners and chemicals.

Avoid using pesticides, paint thinner or other chemicals inside the house or garage. Try to find non-chemical solutions. If you do use these chemicals inside, keep the area well ventilated.

Don’t mix chemicals. They may become poisonous when mixed. Bleach and ammonia are just one example; when mixed together, they create a poisonous gas that can be deadly.

Label everything inside your medicine cabinet. Ask yourself, “If an adult needed a particular medicine, could he or she find the right one easily, without guessing?”

Get rid of old or expired medicines and household products.

Keep medicines and chemicals in their original containers.

Follow the label directions when using a product.

Have your gas heater and any other gas-, oil- or wood-fueled appliances serviced regularly. Be sure these appliances are properly vented.

Never run your car in your garage, other than when you are driving in and out.

Install a carbon monoxide detector to keep you safe in case of a carbon monoxide leak in your home.

What to do in case of poisoning

Make sure the number for the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) is on or near every phone in your home. In the case of poisoning or suspected poisoning, call the local center right away and make sure you know what the immediate proper care should be. Different types of poison require different treatments.

Stay calm.

Get the person away from the poison. If the poison is on the skin, rinse it off with running water and remove any poisoned clothing. If the poison is in the air, move the person into fresh air.

Call 911 if you have a poison emergency and the person has collapsed or is not breathing. OR

If the victim is awake and alert, dial the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Try to have the following information ready:

The person’s age and weight

The container that held the poison, if available

The time of the poison exposure

The address where the affected person is

Stay on the phone and follow the instructions from the emergency operator or the poison control center.

NOTE: If the person swallowed a poisonous substance, do not try to induce vomiting, such as with syrup of ipecac. That approach to swallowed poisons is no longer recommended. Research shows that syrup of ipecac doesn’t improve the outcome of treatment for poisoning. And, because it causes vomiting, it can even get in the way of treatments that could be helpful.